Take the ferry from Broadway Pier
downtown, or drive along the scenic Coronado Bridge, to get to this
charming “island” (that’s actually a
peninsula). The legendary Hotel Del
Coronado’s red turrets and white
wedding-cake trim are a sight to
behold. Built in 1888, it was once
deemed “the unrivaled Queen of
seaside resorts” and has hosted royalty, presidents and celebrities like
Marilyn Monroe, who filmed Some
Like It Hot there. The wide, sandy
beach stretches north for over a
mile, ending in a dog-friendly section. Stroll Orange Avenue for shopping and dining at spots like Stake
Chophouse for outstanding Wagyu
and ribeye, Leroy’s for farm-fresh
cuisine or Primavera Ristorante for
authentic Italian. You can play 18
holes by the bay at the public
Coronado Golf Course, or enjoy a sunset
serenade from a gondolier on board
a traditional Venetian-style boat
while gliding through the canals of
the Coronado Cays.

IMPERIAL BEACH

This funky beach town has undergone a renaissance, now flush with
art, culture, and recreation. The
Outdoor Surfboard Museum
welcomes visitors and memorializes
prominent board shapers; the art installation at Pier Plaza, Surf Henge,
also honors the town’s surfing heritage, as well as its famous big-wave
break, the Tijuana Sloughs. You can
fish from the scenic wooden pier
there, or spot wildlife while hiking
the trails of the Tijuana River Estuary, the largest saltwater marsh in
SoCal. Surfside Ranch is the only
spot in San Diego where you can
go for a sunset horseback ride on
the beach. Cyclists can pedal all
the way from IB to Coronado along
seven miles of the Bayshore Bikeway loop. When hungry, head to IB
Street Tacos for some local flavor,
Brigantine for oysters or Coronado
Brewing Company for a cold one.
For beachfront dining, Sea180°
Coastal Tavern offers up flatbreads,
burgers and craft cocktails.

GLORIETTA BAY INN

Once the mansion of San Diego visionaryand philanthropist John Spreckels,this historic hotel is set in the heart ofCoronado and overlooks the bay. Guestscan opt for a Mansion Room ora contemporary suite and enjoy theheated pool and Jacuzzi.GLORIETTABAYINN.COMCORONADO